Component mounting device and component mounting method

ABSTRACT

There is provided a component mounter that conveys in a board having a product area in which a pattern electrode incorporated in an electrical product is disposed and an inspection area in which an inspection electrode for inspecting electrical characteristics is disposed, and conveys out the board after repeatedly executing an operation of picking up a component supplied by a component feeder and installing the component in the product area according to an installation sequence program, the device including: target event occurrence detector for detecting occurrence of an event that requires inspection of the electrical characteristics with respect to the component supplied by the component feeder; a determiner for determining whether or not the inspection area is vacant; and inspection-required component installer for installing the component picked up from the component feeder in the inspection area as an inspection-required component, in a case where the target event occurrence detector detects the occurrence of the event and the determiner determines that the inspection area is vacant.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a component mounter and a componentmounting method for installing a component on a board.

BACKGROUND ART

A board (mounting board) incorporated in an electrical product isproduced by installing a plurality of types of component on a patternelectrode provided on the board. A component mounting system thatproduces such a mounting board is configured with a mounting work unitand a management device that manages an operation of the mounting workunit. The mounting work unit is generally configured such that aprinting device for printing a solder on a board, a plurality ofcomponent mounters for installing a component on a board, a reflowdevice for reflowing a solder, and an appearance inspection device forinspecting appearance of the board are arranged in this order from theupstream side of the flow of the board. The component mounter thatconfigures the mounting work unit of the component mounting system isconfigured to install the component supplied by a component feeder tothe conveyed-in board. Here, an installation head operates based on aninstallation sequence program, and repeatedly executes the installationturn for installing the component picked up from the component feeder onthe board. In the component mounter, in a case where the componentsupplied by the component feeder is in an insufficient state while theabove-described installation turn is repeatedly performed, the componentis additionally replenished by the work of an operator. By the setupchange or the like, in a case where the need to change the type ofcomponent to be supplied occurs, the component feeder is removed by theoperator, the component to be supplied is changed, and then, thecomponent feeder is installed again.

Meanwhile, since the work of additional replenishment of components orchange of the type of component requires manual work by the operator, itis not possible to completely prevent occurrence of human errors such asa component setting error. Due to the setting error of the component tothe component feeder, when the component feeder supplies a componentdifferent from the component that is supposed to be originally supplied,all the boards on which the components are installed becomes defectiveboards, and thus, there is a concern that a great deal of loss occurs.Therefore, conventionally, in a case where the additional replenishmentof the component or the change of the type of component are performed,by inspecting electrical characteristics such as resistance,electrostatic capacity, or resistance of the component by acharacteristic checker installed in each of the component mounters, itis confirmed whether or not a setting error occurs in a component newlyset in the component feeder. Accordingly, it is possible to preventproduction of a defective board caused by the setting error of thecomponent and to suppress the occurrence of loss as much as possible(for example, refer to Patent Literature 1 as follows).

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   PTL 1: International Publication No. 2014/203331

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided acomponent mounter that conveys in a board having a product area in whicha pattern electrode incorporated in an electrical product is disposedand an inspection area in which an inspection electrode for inspectingelectrical characteristics is disposed, and conveys out the board afterrepeatedly executing an operation of picking up a component supplied bya component feeder and installing the component in the product areaaccording to an installation sequence program, the device including: atarget event occurrence detector for detecting occurrence of an eventthat requires inspection of the electrical characteristics with respectto the component supplied by the component feeder; a determiner fordetermining whether or not the inspection area is vacant; and aninspection-required component installer for installing the componentpicked up from the component feeder in the inspection area as aninspection-required component, when the target event occurrence detectordetects the occurrence of the event and the determiner determines thatthe inspection area is vacant.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provideda first component mounter that conveys in a board having a product areain which a pattern electrode incorporated in an electrical product isdisposed and an inspection area in which an inspection electrode forinspecting electrical characteristics is disposed, from a device on anupstream side, and conveys out the board after repeatedly executing anoperation of picking up a component supplied by a component feeder andinstalling the component in the product area, the device including: astorage for storing the component as an inspection-required component ina case of occurrence of an event that requires inspection of theelectrical characteristics with respect to the component supplied by thecomponent feeder; a receiver for directly or indirectly receivinginspection area component information in which an installed state of theinspection-required component in the inspection area is recorded, fromthe device on the upstream side; a determiner for determining whether ornot the inspection area is vacant based on the inspection area componentinformation received by the receiver; an inspection-required componentinstaller for installing the component picked up from the componentfeeder in the inspection area as the inspection-required component, in acase where the inspection-required component is stored in the storageand the determiner determines that the inspection area is vacant; aninspection area component information updater for updating theinspection area component information by writing information indicatingthat the inspection-required component is installed in the inspectionarea into the inspection area component information, in a case where theinspection-required component is installed in the inspection area; andan inspection area component information transmitter for directly orindirectly transmitting the inspection area component informationupdated by the inspection area component information updater, to adevice on a downstream side.

According to a still another aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided a second component mounter that conveys in a board having aproduct area in which a pattern electrode incorporated in an electricalproduct is disposed and an inspection area in which an inspectionelectrode for inspecting electrical characteristics is disposed, andconveys out the board after repeatedly executing an operation of pickingup a component supplied by a component feeder and installing thecomponent in the product area, the device including: a storage forstoring the component as an inspection-required component in a case ofoccurrence of an event that requires inspection of the electricalcharacteristics with respect to the component supplied by the componentfeeder; an inspection-required component installer for installing thecomponent picked up from the component feeder in the inspection area asthe inspection-required component, when the inspection-requiredcomponent is stored in the storage; an inspection area componentinformation updater for updating inspection area component informationby writing information indicating that the inspection-required componentis installed in the inspection area, into the inspection area componentinformation which is directly or indirectly received from a device on anupstream side and in which an installed state of the inspection-requiredcomponent in the inspection area is recorded, in a case where theinspection-required component is installed in the inspection area; andan inspection area component information transmitter for directly orindirectly transmitting the inspection area component informationupdated by the inspection area component information updater, to adevice on a downstream side.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided a third component mounter that conveys in a board having aproduct area in which a pattern electrode incorporated in an electricalproduct is disposed and an inspection area in which an inspectionelectrode for inspecting electrical characteristics is disposed, from adevice on an upstream side, and conveys out the board after repeatedlyexecuting an operation of picking up a component supplied by a componentfeeder and installing the component in the product area, the deviceincluding: a storage for storing the component as an inspection-requiredcomponent in a case of occurrence of an event that requires inspectionof the electrical characteristics with respect to the component suppliedby the component feeder; a receiver for directly or indirectly receivinginspection area component information in which an installed state of theinspection-required component in the inspection area is recorded, fromthe device on the upstream side; a determiner for determining whether ornot the inspection area is vacant based on the inspection area componentinformation received by the receiver; an inspection-required componentinstaller for installing the component picked up from the componentfeeder in the inspection area as the inspection-required component, in acase where the inspection-required component is stored in the storageand the determiner determines that the inspection area is vacant; and aninspection area component information updater for updating theinspection area component information by writing information indicatingthat the inspection-required component is installed in the inspectionarea into the inspection area component information, in a case where theinspection-required component is installed in the inspection area.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided acomponent mounting method by a component mounter that conveys in a boardhaving a product area in which a pattern electrode incorporated in anelectrical product is disposed and an inspection area in which aninspection electrode for inspecting electrical characteristics isdisposed, and conveys out the board after repeatedly executing anoperation of picking up a component supplied by a component feeder andinstalling the component in the product area according to aninstallation sequence program, the method including: an event occurrencedetecting step of detecting occurrence of an event that requiresinspection of the electrical characteristics with respect to thecomponent supplied by the component feeder; a determining step ofdetermining whether or not the inspection area is vacant; and aninspection-required component installing step of installing thecomponent picked up from the component feeder in the inspection area asan inspection-required component, in a case where the occurrence of theevent is detected in the event occurrence detecting step and it isdetermined that the inspection area is vacant in the determining step.

According to the present disclosure, in a case where an event thatrequires inspection of electrical characteristics with respect to acomponent supplied by a component feeder occurs, it is possible toinstall the component that requires the inspection of electricalcharacteristics in an inspection area which is an area different from aproduct area on a board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view for describing a configuration of a component mountingsystem which includes a component mounter according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a board according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a part of the board according to the exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the component mounter according to theexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the componentmounter according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an image of an installation sequenceprogram stored in a mounter storage unit according to the exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an image of component data stored in themounter storage unit according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an image of inspection-required componentlist data stored in the mounter storage unit according to the exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an image of inspection area componentinformation stored in the mounter storage unit according to theexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an image of the installation sequenceprogram stored in the mounter storage unit according to the exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a state where electrical characteristicsare inspected by a characteristic inspection device according to theexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of thecharacteristic inspection device according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of a managementdevice according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a view illustrating an image of the inspection area componentinformation stored in a management device storage unit according to theexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a main routine illustrating a processingprocedure in the component mounter according to the exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a subroutine illustrating the processingprocedure of the component mounter according to the exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of thecharacteristic inspection device according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of themanagement device according to the exemplary embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

As described above, as replenishment of components or change of types ofcomponent are performed during production of a mounting board,inspection of electrical characteristics of a component that requiresinspection of electrical characteristics is substantially effective inpreventing the occurrence of human error by an operator, but there is adisadvantage that it costs a lot to install an expensive characteristicchecker in each component mounter.

Here, it is conceivable that, among regions on a board, a regiondifferent from a product area in which the component incorporated as apart of an electrical product is installed is provided on the board asan inspection area, and in a case where it is necessary to performinspection of electrical characteristics of the component during theproduction of the mounting board, the component is installed in theinspection area, and after installation work of the component iscompleted, the electrical characteristics of the component areinspected. By doing so, it is not necessary to assemble thecharacteristic checker to all the component mounters, and thus, the costcan be significantly reduced. However, conventionally, there has been nocomponent mounter capable of installing a component that requiresinspection of electrical characteristics in the inspection area.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a component mounterand a component mounting method that can install a component thatrequires inspection of electrical characteristics in an inspection areaon a board, in a case where an event that requires inspection ofelectrical characteristics with respect to a component supplied by acomponent feeder occurs.

Exemplary Embodiment

Next, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will bedescribed. FIG. 1 is component mounting system 1 for producing mountingboard JKB by installing component BH on board KB, and includes mountingwork unit 2 and management device 3 for managing an operation ofmounting work unit 2. In mounting work unit 2, printing device 4, aplurality of component mounters 5, reflow furnace 6, appearanceinspection device 7, and characteristic inspection device 8 areconfigured to be arranged in this order from the upstream side (upperside in FIG. 1) of the flow of board KB. Each device (printing device 4,the plurality of component mounters 5, reflow furnace 6, appearanceinspection device 7, and characteristic inspection device 8) thatconfigures mounting work unit 2 can transmit and receive data to andfrom management device 3, respectively.

Management device 3 stores information such as an operation program oroperation parameters necessary for the operation of each device thatconfigures mounting work unit 2. Management device 3 collects and storeslog information fed from each device during the production of mountingboard JKB. Before starting the production of mounting board JKB, eachdevice downloads the production data including the operation program orthe operation parameters and stores the production data in a storageunit provided in each device. Each device operates based on thedownloaded production data. Each device includes a bar code reader (notillustrated) for reading the bar code provided on the surface ofconveyed-in board KB. Each device transmits the identificationinformation (board identification ID) of board KB read by the bar codereader to management device 3. Management device 3 stores the loginformation fed from each device in association with the identificationinformation of board KB.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, board KB handled in the present exemplaryembodiment has not only product area PR in which pattern electrode PDincorporated in an electrical product is disposed, but also a pluralityof inspection areas CR set as regions different from product area PR. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, inspection electrode CD for inspecting electricalcharacteristics is disposed in each inspection area CR.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, component BH (illustrated by a one-dot chainline in the drawing) incorporated in the electrical product is installedin pattern electrodes PD. As illustrated in FIG. 3, on inspectionelectrode CD, among components BH installed in product area PR,component BH that requires inspection of electrical characteristics isinstalled as inspection-required component CBH (illustrated by a brokenline in the drawing). Inspection terminal TS is connected to inspectionelectrode CD. In the present exemplary embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 3, three inspection areas CR are provided such that three types ofinspection-required component CBH having different sizes can beinstalled.

In FIG. 1, printing device 4 includes board transport conveyor 11, mask12, and squeegee 13. Board transport conveyor 11 is installed so as toextend in the horizontal direction, and mask 12 is installed above boardtransport conveyor 11. Squeegee 13 is provided above mask 12. When boardKB is put into printing device 4, printing device 4 operates boardtransport conveyor 11 to convey in board KB. Board KB is lifted up by aboard lifting and lowering unit (not illustrated) and brought intocontact with the lower surface of mask 12, and squeegee 13 is slid onmask 12.

When squeegee 13 slides on mask 12, the solder previously supplied onmask 12 is scraped by squeegee 13, and the solder is applied to thesurface of board KB through the pattern opening provided in mask 12. Atthis time, the solder is applied to both pattern electrode PD in productarea PR and inspection electrode CD in inspection area CR. When thesolder is applied to board KB, the above-described board lifting andlowering unit lowers board KB and releases (separates) board KB frommask 12. When board KB is separated from mask 12, board transportconveyor 11 operates to convey out board KB to the downstream side(component mounter 5 positioned on the most upstream side among theplurality of component mounters 5).

In FIG. 4, each component mounter 5 includes board transporter 21configured having a pair of conveyors, a plurality of component feeders22, installation head 23, board camera 24, and display device 25.Installation head 23 is moved within the horizontal plane by head movingmechanism 23M. Installation head 23 includes a plurality of nozzles 23 aextending downward.

In FIG. 4, component feeder 22 is attached to feeder carriage 27 that isdetachably connected to base 26 of component mounter 5. The plurality ofcomponent feeders 22 can be attached side by side to a plurality ofslots 27S of feeder base 27B included in feeder carriage 27. Eachcomponent feeder 22 includes a connector (not illustrated), and whenbeing installed on feeder base 27B, each component feeder 22 isconnected to the connector (not illustrated) on feeder base 27B side.Component feeder 22 can communicate with mounter controller 30, whichwill be described later, via this connector. Here, component feeder 22is a tape feeder for supplying component BH by the feeding operation ofa tape containing component BH, and supplies component BH from componentsupply port 22K. Board camera 24 is attached to installation head 23with an imaging visual field facing downward. Display device 25 isattached at an appropriate position visible to the operator.

In FIG. 5, mounter controller 30 included in component mounter 5includes mounter storage unit 31, mounter processing unit 32, andmounter communicator 33. Mounter storage unit 31 stores production datarequired for the operation of component mounter 5. Specifically,installation sequence program (master) 40, installation sequence program41, component data 42, inspection area coordinate data 43,inspection-required component list data 44, and inspection areacomponent information 45 are stored. These production data aredownloaded from management device 3. Mounter processing unit 32 includesmounting controller 51, receptor 52, transmitter 53, target eventoccurrence detector 54, inspection-required component register 55,vacancy determiner 56, data adder 57, and inspection area componentinformation updater 58. The operation of display device 25 is controlledby mounter controller 30. All or a part of mounter processing unit 32 isconfigured with, for example, an integrated circuit. All or a part ofthe functions of mounter processing unit 32 may be realized by theprocessor included in component mounter 5 executing the program storedin mounter storage unit 31.

Installation sequence program 41 stored in mounter storage unit 31 isconfigured to include main data 41A indicating an operation order forinstalling component BH in product area PR of board KB (FIG. 6).Installation sequence program 41 is copied from installation sequenceprogram (master) 40 each time board KB is conveyed in.

In FIG. 6, main data 41A of installation sequence program 41 includeseach item of “sequence number”, “nozzle number”, “X”, “Y”, “θ”,“component identification information”, and “component supply position”.Here, the “sequence number” is a serial number indicating the order inwhich the sequence operation of component installation is executed.“Nozzle number” is the number for identifying the plurality of nozzles23 a provided in installation head 23, component BH is installed onboard KB by nozzle 23 a having a nozzle number designated here.

In FIG. 6, “X” and “Y” are coordinate data indicating the position onboard KB for installing component BH, and are X and Y coordinate valuesbased on the XY orthogonal coordinate axes fixed to board KB withreference to the original position set on board KB. “θ” is a deviationangle from the reference direction (for example, the above-describedX-axis) set on board KB. “Component identification information” isidentification information individually given to each component BH.“Component supply position” is a position to which component BH issupplied in component mounter 5, and here, the identification number ofslot 27S of feeder carriage 27 in which component feeder 22 is installedis designated.

Component data 42 stored in mounter storage unit 31 is data aboutcomponent BH installed on board KB, and includes data referred to whencomponent mounter 5 installs component BH, such as componentidentification information for identifying component BH, dimension data,or nozzle identification information of nozzle 23 a used when installingthe component to board KB. Furthermore, component data 42 includeselectrical characteristic inspection flag 42A indicating whether or notit is necessary to perform inspection of electrical characteristics in acase where “event” has occurred with respect to component feeder 22related to component BH (FIG. 7). Electrical characteristic inspectionflag 42A is set to “1” for component BH that requires inspection ofelectrical characteristics, and is set to “0” for component BH that doesnot require inspection of electrical characteristics. Only the component(component BH in which electrical characteristic inspection flag 42A is“1”) in which a flag indicating that requires inspection of electricalcharacteristics is set is handled as inspection-required component CBH.

Here, the above-described “event” means an event having a possibilitythat component BH to be supplied is switched in each component feeder22. For example, the event corresponds to a case where component feeder22 is reinstalled in feeder carriage 27 after the operator once removedcomponent feeder 22 from feeder carriage 27 in order to change componentBH to be supplied. The event corresponds to a case where feeding of thepreceding tape is completed and the next tape is loaded in a case wherecomponent feeder 22 is an autoload type tape feeder. The eventcorresponds to a case where a connector for connecting the precedingtape and the next tape for replenishment to each other passes throughcomponent supply port 22K in a case of replenishing component BH to thetape feeder by the splicing method. When there is a possibility that anevent occurs in component feeder 22 and component BH supplied bycomponent feeder 22 is switched, it is necessary to confirm thatcomponent BH having a possibility of switching is correct as planned (orto confirm that component BH is not erroneous component BH), andtherefore, it is necessary to inspect electrical characteristics forcomponent BH.

Inspection area coordinate data 43 stored in mounter storage unit 31 iscoordinate data indicating a component installation position set in eachof three inspection areas CR included in each board KB. The coordinatedata that configures each inspection area coordinate data 43 includes“X”, “Y”, and “θ”, and is, for example, coordinate data of anintermediate point of a pair of inspection electrodes CD in eachinspection area. Similar to the installation sequence programs “X”, “Y”,and “θ”, the coordinate data is set with reference to the coordinateaxes fixed to board KB with the original position set in board KB as theorigin.

In a case where the above-described event occurs, inspection-requiredcomponent list data 44 stored in mounter storage unit 31 is data inwhich component BH (component BH having a possibility of switching)related to the event is listed as inspection-required component CBH.Inspection-required component list data 44 is vacant data in the initialstate, but every time an event is detected for component BH thatrequires inspection of electrical characteristics, component BH relatedto the detected event is listed up as inspection-required component CBH.

In FIG. 8, inspection-required component list data 44 includes at leasteach item of “component identification information”, “component supplyposition”, and “area number” for the listed inspection-requiredcomponent CBH. Here, “component identification information” and“component supply position” are as described above, and “area number” isthe identification number (here, the number for identifying whichinspection area CR is the inspection area CR among three inspectionareas CR) of inspection area CR in which component BH is supposed to beinstalled. Which inspection area CR component BH is installed in isdetermined based on the dimension data included in component data 42.

Inspection area component information 45 is information on component BH(inspection-required component CBH) installed in inspection area CR foreach board KB (FIG. 9). Inspection area component information 45 isinformation indicating whether or not inspection-required component CBHis installed in inspection area CR, that is, data indicating theinformation on vacancy of inspection area CR. Inspection area componentinformation 45 is data which is created corresponding to each board KBput into mounting work unit 2, and has properties sequentially deliveredto each component mounter 5 via management device 3 according to theflow of board KB.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, inspection area component information 45includes each item of “board identification ID”, “area number”,“component identification information”, “component supply position”, and“mounter identification information”. Here, “area number”, “componentidentification information”, and “component supply position” areinformation as described above. “Board identification ID” is uniqueidentification information given to each board KB sequentially processedby component mounting system 1, and can be read from a bar code or thelike provided on the surface of board KB.

Inspection area component information 45 is created for each “boardidentification ID”. When management device 3 has created inspection areacomponent information 45, component mounter 5 downloads createdinspection area component information 45 from management device 3 andstores the downloaded inspection area component information 45. Whenmanagement device 3 does not have created inspection area componentinformation 45, component mounter 5 creates and stores new inspectionarea component information 45. Newly created inspection area componentinformation 45 is vacant inspection area component information that doesnot include information related to inspection-required component CBH.When component mounter 5 installs lifted inspection-required componentCBH in inspection area CR, as information indicating this (indicatingthat inspection-required component CBH is installed in inspection areaCR), new “board identification ID”, “area number”, “componentidentification information”, “component supply position”, and “mounteridentification information” are written and updated by inspection areacomponent information updater 58 into inspection-required component listdata 44. The updated inspection area component information 45 isuploaded to management device 3 and downloaded to the downstreamcomponent mounter 5. Therefore, inspection area component information 45is inherited from upstream component mounter 5 to downstream componentmounter 5 in accordance with the transport of board KB, and wheninspection-required component CBH is installed in inspection area CR,inspection area component information 45 is updated by component mounter5 in which inspection-required component CBH is installed.

Mounting controller 51 controls operations of each unit included incomponent mounter 5 such that component BH is installed in product areaPR, based on main data 41A in installation sequence program 41 stored inmounter storage unit 31. Accordingly, corresponding components BH areinstalled one by one on each pattern electrode PD of product area PR ofboard KB conveyed in to component mounter 5.

Receptor 52 downloads installation sequence program 41, inspection areacomponent information 45, and the like from management device 3 throughmounter communicator 33. Downloaded installation sequence program 41,inspection area component information 45, and the like are stored inmounter storage unit 31 as described above. Transmitter 53 uploadsabove-described updated inspection area component information 45 tomanagement device 3 through mounter communicator 33, in managementdevice 3.

Component feeder 22 includes event notifier 22 a for notifying mountercontroller 30 of the occurrence of an event. Event notifier 22 atransmits the event notification indicating that component feeder 22 isinstalled when component feeder 22 is installed on feeder base 27B, tomounter controller 30. Accordingly, mounter controller 30 can detect theevent that component feeder 22 is installed. In a case where componentfeeder 22 is an autoload type tape feeder, event notifier 22 a performsevent notification indicating that the loading is completed to mountercontroller 30 when the feeding of the preceding tape is completed andthe next tape is loaded. Furthermore, in a case of a tape feeder forreplenishing component BH by the splicing method, the built-in sensor(not illustrated) detects the connector, and when the tape is fed apredetermined distance after the detection, event notifier 22 a performsevent notification to mounter controller 30. When the connector passesthrough component supply port 22K, event notifier 22 a performs eventnotification because the preceding tape is switched to the next tape.Event notifier 22 a may perform the event notification by outputtinginformation, such as identification information of component feeder 22or component identification information of a component supplied bycomponent feeder 22, to mounter controller 30.

Target event occurrence detector 54 included in mounter processing unit32 detects whether or not the event notification is related toinspection-required component CBH among the event notifications notifiedfrom event notifier 22 a. Specifically, target event occurrence detector54 specifies component identification information of component BHsupplied by component feeder 22 based on slot 27S (component supplyposition) in which component feeder 22 that has sent the eventnotification is installed, and installation sequence program 41.Electrical characteristic inspection flag 42A of the componentidentification information is confirmed by component data 42, and whenthe electrical characteristic inspection flag 42A is “1”, it isdetermined that the target event related to inspection-requiredcomponent CBH has occurred. It is needless to say that, when the eventnotification includes the component identification information,electrical characteristic inspection flag 42A can be referred to incomponent data 42.

In this manner, in the present exemplary embodiment, target eventoccurrence detector 54 of mounter controller 30 is target eventoccurrence detector for detecting that an event (hereinafter, describedas target event) that requires inspection of electrical characteristicsfor component BH supplied by component feeder 22 has occurred.

When target event occurrence detector 54 detects that the target eventhas occurred, inspection-required component register 55 writes (lists)component BH related to the detected target event as inspection-requiredcomponent CBH into inspection-required component list data 44.Specifically, “component identification information”, “component supplyposition”, and “area number” of inspection-required component CBH arewritten into inspection-required component list data 44.

When inspection-required component register 55 writes the data relatedto inspection-required component CBH into inspection-required componentlist data 44, vacancy determiner 56 determines whether or not inspectionarea CR that corresponds to inspection-required components CBH listed ininspection-required component list data 44 is vacant. Specifically, itis determined whether or not inspection area CR of the area numberwritten into inspection-required component list data 44 is vacant, frominspection area component information 45. In a case where the same areanumber as that of inspection area CR where inspection-requiredcomponents CBH are planned to be installed is already present ininspection area component information 45, or in a case where thecomponent identification information is written together with the samearea number as that of inspection area component information 45, it isdetermined that inspection area CR is not vacant. In a case wherevacancy determiner 56 determined that inspection area CR is vacant, dataadder 57 creates data for installing inspection-required component CBHin inspection area CR as additional data 41B, and adds createdadditional data 41B to installation sequence program 41 (FIG. 6→FIG. 10,data of sequence number “7” illustrated in FIG. 10).

In this manner, in the present exemplary embodiment, vacancy determiner56 of mounter controller 30 is a determiner for determining whether ornot inspection area CR is vacant. In the present exemplary embodiment,data adder 57 of mounter controller 30 is data aader for addingadditional data 41B for installing inspection-required component CBH ininspection area CR to installation sequence program 41, in a case wheretarget event occurrence detector 54 detects that the target event hasoccurred and vacancy determiner 56 determines that inspection area CR isvacant. In a case of the added “X”, “Y”, and “θ”, the coordinate data ofinspection area CR specified by the area number is read from inspectionarea coordinate data 43.

Mounting controller 51 operates installation head 23 based on main data41A of installation sequence program 41 to install component BH inproduct area PR. When additional data 41B is added to installationsequence program 41, mounting controller 51 operates installation head23 based on additional data 41B to install inspection-required componentCBH in inspection area CR. When inspection-required component CBH isinstalled in inspection area CR, inspection area component informationupdater 58 writes this (inspection-required component CBH is installedin inspection area CR) into inspection area component information 45 toupdate inspection area component information 45. Specifically,inspection area component information updater 58 writes the componentidentification information of inspection-required component CBHinstalled in inspection area CR, board identification ID of board KB onwhich inspection-required component CBH is installed, the area number ofinspection area CR, and identification number (component supplyposition) of slot 27S in which component feeder 22 that has suppliedinspection-required component CBH is installed, into inspection areacomponent information 45.

In this manner, in the present exemplary embodiment, in a case whereinspection-required component CBH is installed in inspection area CR,inspection area component information updater 58 of mounter controller30 is inspection area component information updater for updatinginspection area component information 45 by writing informationindicating that inspection-required component CBH is installed ininspection area CR into inspection area component information 45.Mounter storage unit 31 is storage for storing component BH thatrequires inspection of electrical characteristics as inspection-requiredcomponent CBH (for storing inspection-required component list data 44),in a case where target event that requires inspection of electricalcharacteristics for component BH supplied by component feeder 22 hasoccurred. An example of storage is a memory such as a hard disk drive ora solid state drive.

In the present exemplary embodiment, receptor 52 of mounter controller30 is receiver for receiving inspection area component information 45 inwhich the installed state of inspection-required component CBH ininspection area CR is recorded, from external management device 3.Vacancy determiner 56, which is a determiner, determines whether or notinspection area CR is vacant based on inspection area componentinformation 45 received by receptor 52. Transmitter 53 of mountercontroller 30 is inspection area component information transmitter fortransmitting inspection area component information 45 updated byinspection area component information updater 58 which is inspectionarea component information updater, to management device 3.

Mounter communicator 33 exchanges information with management device 3,which is an external device viewed from component mounter 5. Byexchanging information with management device 3 through mountercommunicator 33, as described above, component mounter 5 downloads data(installation sequence program 41 and inspection area componentinformation 45) stored in management device 3 or uploads data (updatedinspection area component information 45) required to be stored inmanagement device 3 in management device 3.

When board KB is fed from the upstream side of the flow of board KB,each component mounter 5 conveys in board KB by operating boardtransporter 21, and positions board KB at a predetermined workingposition. At this time, board identification ID is read from conveyed-inboard KB, and mounter controller 30 downloads inspection area componentinformation 45 including board identification ID from management device3 and stores the downloaded information in mounter storage unit 31.

Inspection area component information 45 downloaded at the time thatcomponent mounter 5 of conveys in board KB includes information which iswritten in all component mounters 5 positioned on the upstream side ofcomponent mounter 5 and indicates that installation ofinspection-required component CBH in inspection area CR is completed.Therefore, component mounter 5 can detect which inspection area CR ofconveyed-in board KB is vacant, with reference to downloaded inspectionarea component information 45. Among the plurality of component mounters5, component mounter 5 positioned on the most upstream side createsvacant inspection area component information 45 in component mounter 5itself since inspection area component information 45 downloaded frommanagement device 3 does not exist.

When board KB is conveyed in, component mounter 5 positions board KB ata predetermined working position. Mounting controller 51 included in aprocessing unit (mounter processing unit 32) of mounter controller 30repeatedly executes the installation turn (operation of installingcomponent BH on board KB by picking up component BH supplied bycomponent feeder 22) for installing component BH in product area PR,based on main data 41A in installation sequence program 41 stored inmounter storage unit 31.

In each installation turn, each component feeder 22 performs anoperation of supplying component BH to component supply port 22K, andafter installation head 23 picks up component BH by nozzle 23 a,installation head 23 moves above board KB, lowers nozzle 23 a, andinstalls component BH on board KB (pattern electrode PD in product areaPR).

While component mounter 5 installs component BH in product area PR basedon installation program 41 (main data 41A), a state of being out ofcomponents or nearly out of components in any of the plurality ofcomponent feeders 22 is achieved, and the above-described event occurs.Among the events, in a case of an event that occurred forinspection-required component CBH, target event occurrence detector 54detects the target event. When target event occurrence detector 54detects that the target event has occurred, data adder 57 createsadditional data 41B, and adds the created additional data 41B below maindata 41A of installation sequence program 41 stored in mounter storageunit 31 (that is, at the end of installation sequence program 41) (FIG.6→FIG. 10). After installation head 23 controlled by mounter controller30 repeatedly executes the installation turn to install component BH inproduct area PR of board KB, based on additional data 41B added toinstallation sequence program 41, inspection-required component CBH isinstalled in inspection area CR.

In this manner, in the present exemplary embodiment, in a case wherevacancy determiner 56, which is a determiner, determines that inspectionarea CR is vacant, installation head 23 functions as inspection-requiredcomponent installer for installing component BH picked up from componentfeeder 22 as inspection-required component CBH in inspection area CR.

When inspection-required component CBH is installed in inspection areaCR, component mounter 5 writes the information indicating that theinstallation is completed into inspection area component information 45to update inspection area component information 45. When installation ofinspection-required component CBH in inspection area CR is completed,board transporter 21 is operated to convey out board KB to thedownstream side, and updated inspection area component information 45 isuploaded to management device 3.

In this manner, each of the plurality of component mounters 5 in thepresent exemplary embodiment is configured to convey in board KB havingproduct area PR in which pattern electrode PD incorporated in theelectrical product is disposed and inspection area CR in whichinspection electrode CD for inspecting the electrical characteristics isdisposed, and to convey out board KB after repeatedly executing anoperation of picking up component BH supplied by component feeder 22 andinstalling the component in product area PR according to installationsequence program 41. Furthermore, each of the plurality of componentmounters 5 is configured to include target event occurrence detector 54for detecting occurrence of an event that requires inspection of theelectrical characteristics with respect to component BH supplied bycomponent feeder 22, vacancy determiner 56 (determiner) for determiningwhether or not inspection area CR is vacant, and installation head 23(inspection-required component installer). In a case where target eventoccurrence detector 54 detects that an event has occurred and vacancydeterminer 56 determines that inspection area CR is vacant, installationhead 23 installs component BH picked up from component feeder 22 ininspection area CR as inspection-required component CBH. With thisconfiguration, component BH (inspection-required component CBH) thatrequires inspection of the electrical characteristics for component BHsupplied by component feeder 22 can be installed in inspection area CRwhich is an area different from product area PR on board KB.

Component mounter 5 (first component mounter) excluding componentmounters 5 positioned on the most upstream side and the most downstreamside from the plurality of component mounters 5 conveys in board KB fromthe device on the upstream side, and conveys out board KB afterrepeatedly executing the operation of picking up component BH suppliedby the component feeder 22 and installing the picked-up component BH inproduct area PR. Furthermore, the first component mounter includesmounter storage unit 31 (storage) for storing a component that requiresinspection of electrical characteristics in a case where the targetevent has occurred for component BH supplied by component feeder 22 asinspection-required component, and receiver (receptor 52) for receivinginspection area component information in which the installed state ofinspection-required component CBH in inspection area CR is recorded.Furthermore, the first component mounter includes above-describedvacancy determiner 56 (reverser), installation head 23(inspection-required component installer), inspection area componentinformation updater 58 (inspection area component information updater),and transmitter 53 (inspection area component information transmitter).With this configuration, component BH (inspection-required componentCBH) that requires inspection of the electrical characteristics forcomponent BH supplied by component feeder 22 can be installed ininspection area CR which is an area different from product area PR onboard KB.

Component mounter 5 (second component mounter) positioned on the mostupstream side among the plurality of component mounters 5 conveys inboard KB, and conveys out board KB after repeatedly executing theoperation of picking up component BH supplied by the component feeder 22and installing picked-up component BH in product area PR. Furthermore,the second component mounter includes above-described mounter storageunit 31 (storage), installation head 23 (inspection-required componentinstaller), inspection area component information updater 58 (inspectionarea component information updater), and transmitter 53 (inspection areacomponent information transmitter). With this configuration, componentBH (inspection-required component CBH) that requires inspection of theelectrical characteristics for component BH supplied by component feeder22 can be installed in inspection area CR which is an area differentfrom product area PR on board KB.

Component mounter 5 (third component mounter) positioned on the mostdownstream side among the plurality of component mounters 5 conveys inboard KB from the device on the upstream side, and conveys out board KBafter repeatedly executing the operation of picking up component BHsupplied by the component feeder 22 and installing the picked-upcomponent BH in product area PR. Furthermore, the third componentmounter includes above-described mounter storage unit 31 (storage),receptor 52 (receiver), vacancy determiner 56 (determiner), installationhead 23 (inspection-required component installer), and inspection areacomponent information updater 58 (inspection area component informationupdater). With this configuration, component BH (inspection-requiredcomponent CBH) that requires inspection of the electricalcharacteristics for component BH supplied by component feeder 22 can beinstalled in inspection area CR which is an area different from productarea PR on board KB.

In this manner, in component mounter 5 in the present exemplaryembodiment, component BH (inspection-required component CBH) thatrequires inspection of the electrical characteristics for component BHsupplied by component feeder 22 can be installed in inspection area CRwhich is an area different from product area PR on board KB. Therefore,after inspection-required component CBH is moved together with board KBand the installation work of component BH by all component mounters 5 iscompleted, one characteristic inspection means (here, characteristicinspection device 8) can inspect electrical characteristics ofinspection-required component CBH, and thus, it is not necessary toinstall an expensive characteristic checker for performing inspection ofelectrical characteristics of component BH in each component mounter,and the cost can be reduced.

In FIG. 1, reflow furnace 6 includes a pair of feed conveyors 6C, heater6H, and cooler 6L. Cooler 6L is provided to be positioned on thedownstream side of heater 6H. In reflow furnace 6, reflow furnace 6receives board KB from the upstream side (component mounter 5 positionedon the most downstream side among the plurality of component mounters 5)and transports board KB toward the downstream side by feed conveyor 6C.During this time, after board KB is heated by heater 6H, board KB iscooled by cooler 6L. Accordingly, the solder melts and then solidifies,and component BH installed by component mounter 5 is fixed on board KB.

In FIG. 1, appearance inspection device 7 includes transport conveyor 61and inspection camera 62. Inspection camera 62 has an imaging visualfield facing downward and is moved by camera moving mechanism 62M. Whenboard KB is fed from the upstream side (reflow device 6), appearanceinspection device 7 conveys in board KB by operating board transporter21, and board KB is positioned at a predetermined working position. Theappearance inspection is executed with respect to conveyed-in board KBbased on the data of operation order downloaded and obtained frommanagement device 3. Specifically, camera moving mechanism 62M operatesto move inspection camera 62 above board KB, and inspection camera 62images board KB. Accordingly, when the appearance inspection of board KBis completed, transport conveyor 61 operates to convey out board KB tothe downstream side.

In FIG. 1, characteristic inspection device 8 includes conveyor device71 and inspection head 72. As illustrated in FIG. 11, inspection head 72includes a pair of inspection pins 72P protruding downward, and is movedby inspection head moving mechanism 72M. In FIG. 12, characteristicinspection device controller 80 included in characteristic inspectiondevice 8 includes characteristic inspection device storage unit 81,characteristic inspection device processing unit 82, and characteristicinspection device transmitter/receptor 83. Inspection program 81 a isstored in characteristic inspection device storage unit 81.Characteristic inspection device processing unit 82 includescharacteristic inspection controller 82 a, error determiner 82 b, anderror information transmitter 82 c. All or a part of characteristicinspection device controller 80 is configured with, for example, anintegrated circuit. All or a part of the functions of characteristicinspection device controller 80 may be realized by the processorincluded in characteristic inspection device 8 executing the programstored in characteristic inspection device storage unit 81.

Inspection program 81 a stored in characteristic inspection devicestorage unit 81 is a program that defines in what order the inspection(inspection of electrical characteristics) is performed with respect toconveyed-in board KB.

Characteristic inspection controller 82 a included in the characteristicinspection device processing unit executes characteristic inspection(inspection of electrical characteristics) with respect to conveyed-inboard KB based on inspection program 81 a. Error determiner 82 bdetermines whether or not component BH is an error component based onwhether or not the obtained value of electrical characteristics iswithin the reference range as a result of executing the inspection withrespect to component BH (inspection-required component CBH) installed ininspection area CR by characteristic inspection controller 82 a. Here,“error component” refers to a component of which the obtained value ofelectrical characteristic is not within the reference range as a resultof performing inspection of electrical characteristics.

As a result of inspection of electrical characteristics, component BH(inspection-required component CBH) determined to be an error componentmeans erroneous component BH that is not supposed to be originallysupplied. Accordingly, in a case where there is component BH(inspection-required component CBH) determined to be an error componentby error determiner 82 b, error information transmitter 82 c ofcharacteristic inspection device 8 transmits information (boardidentification ID of board KB on which the error component is installedand the area number of inspection area CR) about inspection-requiredcomponent CBH for which the error determination was made, as errorinformation, to management device 3.

In this manner, in the present exemplary embodiment, error determiner 82b of characteristic inspection device controller 80 serves as an errordeterminer for determining whether or not inspection-required componentCBH installed in inspection area CR is an error component. Errorinformation transmitter 82 c of characteristic inspection devicecontroller 80 serves as error information transmitter for transmittinginformation on inspection-required component CBH determined to be anerror component by error determiner 82 b, which is an error determiner,to the management device as error information.

In FIG. 13, management device controller 90 included in managementdevice 3 includes management device storage unit 91, management deviceprocessing unit 92, and management device communicator 93. In managementdevice storage unit 91, each operation program (reference numeral is 91a) of each device (printing device 4, the plurality of componentmounters 5, reflow furnace 6, appearance inspection device 7, andcharacteristic inspection device 8) that configures mounting work unit 2is stored, and additionally, inspection area component informationaccumulator 91 b and stop option flag data 91 c are stored. Managementdevice processing unit 92 includes inspection area component informationupdater 92 a, error occurrence location specifier 92 b, and stop commandtransmitter 92 c. Management device communicator 93 is connected to eachdevice that configures mounting work unit 2, and transmits and receivesvarious signals to and from each of these devices. All or a part ofmanagement device processing unit 92 is configured with, for example, anintegrated circuit. All or a part of the functions of management deviceprocessing unit 92 may be realized by the processor included inmanagement device 3 executing the program stored in management devicestorage unit 91.

As described above, operation program 91 a stored in management devicestorage unit 91 is data that defines the operation order and the like ofeach device that configures mounting work unit 2. Operation program 91 aincludes installation sequence program 41 corresponding to eachcomponent mounter 5 (FIG. 13).

Inspection area component information accumulator 91 b stored inmanagement device storage unit 91 is data that summarizes the latestinspection area component information 45 for each board KB (FIGS. 13 and14). Inspection area component information accumulator 91 b addsinspection area component information 45 for board KB each time board KBis put into component mounting system 1. When inspection area componentinformation 45 is uploaded from each component mounter 5, based onuploaded inspection area component information 45, inspection areacomponent information 45 in inspection area component informationaccumulator 91 b is updated.

Stop option flag data 91 c stored in management device storage unit 91is a flag of an option that can designate which range of operations ofcomponent mounters 5 among the plurality of component mounters 5 is tobe stopped, in a case where the error component is detected incharacteristic inspection device 8. Specifically, the flag (stop optionflag) can designate whether to stop only the operation of componentmounter 5 (error component mounter) in which the error component ismounted (single stop), or to stop the operations of all componentmounters 5 positioned on the downstream side in addition to errorcomponent mounter (interlocking stop). In FIG. 13, stop option flaginput unit 94 is connected to management device 3, and the operator caninput (change) the data of the stop option flag from the stop optionflag input unit 94, and can designate one of the single stop and theinterlocking stop.

Inspection area component information updater 92 a included inmanagement device processing unit 92 updates inspection area componentinformation 45 accumulated in inspection area component informationaccumulator 91 b based on inspection area component information 45uploaded from each component mounter 5. Specifically, among theplurality of pieces of inspection area component information 45accumulated in inspection area component information accumulator 91 b,inspection area component information 45 having the same boardidentification ID as board identification ID included in inspection areacomponent information 45 uploaded from each component mounter 5 isupdated. Each component mounter 5 transmits board identification ID readwhen board KB is conveyed in to management device 3, and requests thetransmission of inspection area component information 45 includingcorresponding board identification ID. Management device 3 downloads therequested inspection area component information 45 to component mounter5. Accordingly, in each component mounter 5, it is possible to obtaininformation on vacancy of inspection area CR, that is, informationindicating which inspection area CR component BH (inspection-requiredcomponent CBH) is already installed in on board KB conveyed in, andwhich inspection area CR is vacant.

Error occurrence location specifier 92 b specifies component mounter 5in which component BH (inspection-required component CBH) determined tobe an error component based on the error information fed fromcharacteristic inspection device 8 is installed in inspection area CR,and component feeder 22 that has supplied the error component.Specifically, error occurrence location specifier 92 b searchesinspection area component information 45 accumulated in inspection areacomponent information accumulator 91 b by board identification IDincluded in the error information and the area number of inspection areaCR. By reading “mounter identification information” and “componentsupply position” of inspection area component information 45 extractedby the search, error occurrence location specifier 92 b specifiescomponent mounter 5 in which component BH (inspection-required componentCBH) determined to be an error component is installed in inspection areaCR as “error component mounter”, and specifies component feeder 22 thathas supplied the error component as “error component supply componentfeeder”.

In this manner, in the present exemplary embodiment, error occurrencelocation specifier 92 b included in management device 3 is erroroccurrence location specifier for specifying component mounter 5 inwhich inspection-required component CBH determined to be an errorcomponent is installed in inspection area CR as an error componentmounter, based on the error information transmitted by error informationtransmitter 82 c of characteristic inspection device 8 which is theerror information transmitter.

Stop command transmitter 92 c transmits a stop command to componentmounter 5 (that is, the error component mounter) specified by erroroccurrence location specifier 92 b. At this time, in management devicestorage unit 91, in a case where stop option flag data 91 c fordesignating “single stop” is set, a stop command is transmitted only tothe error component mounter, and in a case where stop option flag data91 c for designating “interlocking stop” is set, a stop command istransmitted not only to the error component mounter but also to allcomponent mounters 5 positioned on the downstream side of the errorcomponent mounter.

Component mounter 5 that has received the stop command from managementdevice 3 stops the operation. Therefore, it is possible to preventcomponent BH determined to be an error component by characteristicinspection device 8 from being continuously installed on board KBthereafter and the number of defective boards on which the errorcomponent is installed from increasing. In this manner, in the presentexemplary embodiment, stop command transmitter 92 c included inmanagement device 3 is stopper for stopping the operation of componentmounter 5 specified as an error component mounter by error occurrencelocation specifier 92 b which is the error occurrence locationspecifier.

Component mounter 5 that has received the stop command from managementdevice 3 and stopped the operation displays information indicating thatthe operator can take an appropriate action on display device 25, bycontrolling display device 25 from mounter controller 30. Specifically,information of an error component or information of component feeder 22(error component supply component feeder) which has supplied the errorcomponent, or both of these information, are displayed. In this manner,in the present exemplary embodiment, display device 25 included in eachcomponent mounter 5 is display for displaying at least one of theinformation of the error component and the information of componentfeeder 22 which has supplied the error component. An example of thedisplay is a display such as a liquid crystal display.

Next, the operations of each component mounter 5, characteristicinspection device 8, and management device 3 that configure componentmounting system 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts ofFIGS. 15, 16, 17, and 18. First, the flow of component installation work(component mounting method) by component mounter 5 will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. When mounting work unit 2 starts theproduction of mounting board JKB, component mounter 5 first initializesinspection-required component list data 44 (step ST1 in the main routineof FIG. 15). After initializing inspection-required component list data44, component mounter 5 conveys in board KB and reads the boardidentification information of board KB by a provided bar code reader(step ST2). Component mounter 5 downloads inspection area componentinformation 45 having the same board identification information as theread board identification information, from management device 3. At thistime, in a case where there is no inspection area component information45 of the board identification information corresponding to managementdevice 3, inspection area component information updater 58 createsvacant inspection area component information 45. Accordingly, thedownloaded or created inspection area component information 45 is storedin mounter storage unit 31 (step ST3).

When respectively downloading installation sequence program 41 andinspection area component information 45 from management device 3,component mounter 5 repeatedly executes the installation turn forinstalling component BH on board KB based on main data 41A ininstallation sequence program 41. In the installation turn, first,target event occurrence detector 54 determines whether or not the targetevent is currently occurring (step ST4, target event occurrencedetecting step). In a case where the target event has occurred,inspection-required component CBH that requires inspection of electricalcharacteristics due to the occurrence of event is added toinspection-required component list data 44 (step ST5), and the processproceeds to the next step ST6. Meanwhile, in a case where the targetevent has not occurred in step ST4, the process proceeds from step ST4to step ST6.

In step ST6, component mounter 5 checks whether or not there isinspection-required component CBH currently listed ininspection-required component list data 44, with reference toinspection-required component list data 44. As a result, in a case wherethere is inspection-required component CBH listed in theinspection-required component list data, it is determined whether or notinspection area CR corresponding to inspection-required component CBH isvacant, with reference to inspection area component information 45downloaded or created in step ST3 (step ST7, determining step).

In a case where inspection area CR is vacant as a result of thedetermination in step ST7, component mounter 5 adds additional data 41Bfor installing inspection-required component CBH in inspection area CR,to installation sequence program 41 stored in mounter storage unit 31(step ST8). When step ST8 is completed, component mounter 5 executes oneinstallation turn into product area PR based on installation sequenceprogram 41 (step ST9). Meanwhile, in a case where there is noinspection-required component CBH listed in inspection-requiredcomponent list data in step ST6, or in a case where inspection area CRcorresponding to inspection-required component CBH is not vacant even ina case where there is inspection-required component CBH, the processproceeds from step ST6 to step ST9, and one installation turn intoproduct area PR based on main data 41A is executed.

After executing one installation turn in step ST9, component mounter 5checks whether or not a stop command has been received from managementdevice 3 (step ST10). In a case where the stop command is received, theprocess enters the subroutine of the stop processing (step ST11,flowchart of FIG. 16).

In the subroutine of the stop processing, component mounter 5 firststops the operation (step ST21 in the flowchart of FIG. 16). The contentof the stop command is confirmed (step ST22), and it is determinedwhether or not the device itself corresponds to the error componentmounter (step ST23). As a result, in a case where the device itselfcorresponds to the error component mounter, management device 3 displaysthe content on display device 25 based on the error information receivedfrom characteristic inspection device 8 (step ST24), and then, theprocess starts waiting for the response of the operator (step ST25).Meanwhile, in a case where the device itself does not correspond to theerror component mounter in step ST23, the process starts waiting for theresponse of step ST25 directly from step ST23. In step ST25, in a casewhere it is detected that the operator has taken a response and apredetermined action, the operation is restarted (step ST26), and thesubroutine is omitted.

In a case where component mounter 5 omits the subroutine in step ST11 orhas not received the stop command from management device 3 in step ST10,it is determined whether or not the installation turn performed inimmediately preceding step ST9 is the final installation turn (finalturn) (step ST12). Determination on whether or not the installation turnis the final turn is determined by whether or not all the sequences ofmain data 41A of installation sequence program 41 are completed. As aresult, in a case where the installation turn is not the final turn, theprocess returns to step ST4 in order to perform the next installationturn, and in a case where the installation turn is the final turn, theprocess proceeds to the next step ST13.

In step ST13, with reference to installation sequence program 41,component mounter 5 determines whether or not additional data 41B isadded to installation sequence program 41 (whether or not there is addedadditional data 41B in step ST8). In a case where installation sequenceprogram 41 has additional data 41B, inspection-required component CBH isinstalled in corresponding inspection area CR based on the addedadditional data 41B (step ST14, inspection-required component installingstep). The inspection-required component installing step of step ST14 isa step of picking up component BH that requires inspection of electricalcharacteristics from component feeder 22 and installing component BH asinspection-required component CBH in inspection area CR, in a case whereit is detected that the target event has occurred in the target eventoccurrence detecting step of step ST4 and it is determined thatinspection area CR is vacant in the determining step of step ST7.

When executing the inspection-required component installing step in stepST14, component mounter 5 writes and updates information (informationindicating that the installation is completed) indicating thatinspection-required component CBH is installed in inspection area CR inthe inspection-required component installing step, into inspection areacomponent information 45 (step ST15). Inspection area componentinformation 45 is updated in this manner, and the data of installedinspection-required component CBH is removed (deleted) from the list ofinspection-required component list data 44. When the process of stepST15 is performed, component mounter 5 conveys out board KB to thedownstream side by board transporter 21 (step ST16).

Meanwhile, in step ST13, in a case where installation sequence program41 does not have additional data 41B, component mounter 5 proceeds fromstep ST13 to step ST16 and conveys out board KB to the downstream sideby board transporter 21. When board KB is conveyed out to the downstreamside, component mounter 5 uploads inspection area component information45 to management device 3 (step ST17). It is determined whether or notboard KB conveyed out in step ST16 is final board KB (step ST18), theprocess returns to step ST2 in which installation of component BH tonext board KB is performed in a case where board KB is not final boardKB, and the component installation work is completed in a case whereboard KB is final board KB.

In this manner, the component mounting method by component mounter 5 inthe exemplary embodiment includes an event occurrence detecting step ofdetecting that an event that requires inspection of electricalcharacteristics for component BH supplied by component feeder 22 hasoccurred, and a determining step of determining whether or notinspection area CR is vacant. Furthermore, the component mounting methodincludes an inspection-required component installing step of picking upcomponent BH that requires inspection of electrical characteristics fromcomponent feeder 22 and installing component BH as inspection-requiredcomponent CBH in inspection area CR, in a case where it is detected thatan event has occurred in the event occurrence detecting step and it isdetermined that inspection area CR is vacant in the determining step.

Next, the flow of the characteristic inspection work by thecharacteristic inspection device 8 will be described with reference toFIG. 17. When board KB is fed from the upstream side, characteristicinspection device 8 conveys in and positions board KB at a predeterminedworking position (step ST31). Based on board identification ID read whenboard KB is conveyed in, information on board KB is obtained(downloaded) from management device 3 (step ST32). Specifically,“information on board KB” is inspection area component information 45for obtaining information regarding in which inspection area CR ofconveyed-in board KB inspection-required component CBH is installed, anddata related to the reference range for inspecting inspection-requiredcomponent CBH.

In step ST32, when information on conveyed-in board KB is obtained frommanagement device 3, characteristic inspection device 8 checks whetheror not there is inspection-required component CBH installed ininspection area CR of board KB based on the obtained information (stepST33). As a result, in a case where there is installedinspection-required component CBH, characteristic inspection device 8performs inspection of electrical characteristics for installedinspection-required component CBH (step ST34). It is determined whetheror not the inspection-required component CBH which is a target ofinspection is an error component (step ST35), and in a case whereinspection-required component CBH is an error component, aftertransmitting the error information on the error component to managementdevice 3 (step ST36), board KB is conveyed out (step ST37). Meanwhile,in a case where inspection-required component CBH is not an errorcomponent in step ST35, or in a case where there is no installedinspection-required component CBH in inspection area CR in step ST33,the process proceeds to step ST37, and board KB is conveyed out.

When board KB is conveyed out in step ST37, characteristic inspectiondevice 8 determines whether or not conveyed-out board KB is final boardKB (step ST38). In a case where board KB is not final board KB, theprocess returns to step ST31 in order to perform inspection for nextboard KB, and in a case where board KB is final board KB, thecharacteristic inspection work is completed.

Next, the work flow by management device 3 will be described withreference to FIG. 18. When mounting work unit 2 starts the production ofmounting board JKB, management device 3 first initializes inspectionarea component information accumulator 91 b (step ST41). Wheninitializing inspection area component information accumulator 91 b, itis checked whether or not inspection area component information 45 isreceived from component mounter 5 (step ST42), and in a case whereinspection area component information 45 is received (corresponding tothe above-described step ST17), based on received inspection areacomponent information 45, data is written and updated into inspectionarea component information accumulator 91 b (step ST43). The data to bewritten into inspection area component information accumulator 91 b maybe only a change from the contents of original inspection area componentinformation accumulator 91 b. For example, in a case where informationindicating that inspection-required component CBH is installed ininspection area CR that was vacant until then is fed by componentmounter 5, only information indicating that inspection-requiredcomponent CBH is installed in inspection area CR may be additionallywritten. In a case where there is no inspection area componentinformation 45 which is an update target in inspection area componentinformation accumulator 91 b, inspection area component information 45uploaded from component mounter 5 is registered to inspection areacomponent information accumulator 91 b.

When performing checking in step ST42, management device 3 checkswhether or not the data (inspection area component information 45) isrequested by component mounter 5 (step ST44). Board identification ID isincluded in this request. In a case where the data is requested bycomponent mounter 5, inspection area component information 45 includingcorresponding board identification ID is transmitted to componentmounter 5 that requests the data (step ST45). Accordingly, componentmounter 5 that has requested management device 3 for data has obtainedlatest contents of inspection area component information 45(corresponding to the above-described step ST3).

After checking in step ST44, management device 3 checks whether or noterror information has been received from characteristic inspectiondevice 8 (step ST46). In a case where the error information is receivedfrom characteristic inspection device 8, based on the received errorinformation and inspection area component information 45 accumulated ininspection area component information accumulator 91 b of managementdevice storage unit 91, according to the above procedure, componentmounter 5 in which inspection-required component CBH determined to be anerror component is installed in inspection area CR is specified as“error component mounter” (step ST47).

When the error component mounter is specified in step ST47, managementdevice 3 determines whether the designated stop option flag is “singlestop” or “interlocking stop” (step ST48). In a case where “single stop”is designated, a stop command is transmitted only to component mounter 5corresponding to the error component mounter (step ST49), and in a casewhere “interlocking stop” is designated, the stop command is transmittedto component mounter 5 corresponding to the error component mounter andall component mounters 5 positioned on the downstream side thereof (stepST50). Each component mounter 5 that has received the stop commandtransmitted from management device 3 in step ST49 or step ST50 stops theoperation (corresponding to the above-described step ST21).

When the stop command is transmitted in step ST49 or step ST50,management device 3 checks whether or not mounting work unit 2 hasfinished the production (step ST51). In a case where no errorinformation has been received from characteristic inspection device 8 inthe above-described step ST46, the process proceeds from step ST46 tostep ST51 to check whether or not mounting work unit 2 has finished theproduction. As a result, in a case where mounting work unit 2 has notfinished the production, the process returns to step ST42 to continuethe processing, and in a case where mounting work unit 2 has finishedthe production, the process is completed.

In this manner, component mounting system 1 in the present exemplaryembodiment is configured to include: the plurality of component mounters5 that install component BH supplied by component feeder 22 in productarea PR by conveying in board KB having product area PR in which patternelectrode PD is disposed and inspection area CR in which inspectionelectrode CD is disposed from the device on the upstream side, andconvey out board KB by installing inspection-required component CBH thatrequires inspection of electrical characteristics in the componentsupplied by component feeder 22 in inspection area CR; characteristicinspection device 8 that inspects the electrical characteristics ofinspection-required component CBH installed in inspection area CR bythese component mounters 5; and management device 3 that manages theplurality of component mounters 5 and characteristic inspection device8. Each component mounter 5 transmits inspection area componentinformation 45 in which the installed state of inspection-requiredcomponent CBH in inspection area CR is recorded to management device 3,characteristic inspection device 8 determines whether or notinspection-required component CBH is an error component, and managementdevice 3 specifies component mounter 5 in which inspection-requiredcomponent CBH determined to be an error component is installed as anerror component mounter based on the transmitted error information, andstops operation of the specified error component mounter. Therefore, itis possible to suppress the occurrence of loss as much as possible in acase where component feeder 22 of component mounter 5 supplies componentBH that is not supposed to be originally supplied.

As described above, according to component mounter 5 and componentmounting method in the present exemplary embodiment, in a case where anevent that requires inspection of electrical characteristics forcomponent BH supplied by component feeder 22 has occurred, component BH(inspection-required component CBH) that requires inspection ofelectrical characteristics can be installed in inspection area CR whichis an area different from product area PR on board KB.

The above-described exemplary embodiment is not limited to thedescription above, and various modifications and the like are possible.For example, in the above-described exemplary embodiment, receptor 52 ofeach component mounter 5 indirectly receives inspection area componentinformation 45 from the device on the upstream side via managementdevice 3, but may be configured to receive directly from the device onthe upstream side without going through management device 3. Transmitter53 of each component mounter 5 indirectly transmits updated inspectionarea component information 45 to the device on the downstream side viamanagement device 3, but may be configured to transmit directly to thedevice on the downstream side without going through management device 3.In the above-described exemplary embodiment, the inspection-requiredcomponent installer for installing component BH picked up from componentfeeder 22 as inspection-required component CBH in inspection area CR isthe same as installation head 23, but the inspection-required componentinstaller may be means different from installation head 23.

In the above-described exemplary embodiment, the number of inspectionareas CR provided on board KB is three, but this is merely an example,and any number can be applied. In the above exemplary embodiment,component feeder 22 that supplies component BH is a tape feeder thatsupplies component BH by the feeding operation of the tape containingcomponent BH, but component feeder 22 is not limited to a tape feeder,and other feeders (for example, a bulk feeder or a stick feeder) may beemployed.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the component mounter and the component mounting method ofthe present disclosure, in a case where an event that requiresinspection of electrical characteristics with respect to a componentsupplied by a component feeder occurs, it is possible to install thecomponent that requires the inspection of electrical characteristics inan inspection area which is an area different from a product area on aboard.

REFERENCE MARKS IN THE DRAWINGS

-   -   1 component mounting system    -   3 management device    -   5 component mounter    -   8 characteristic inspection device    -   22 component feeder    -   23 installation head (inspection-required component installer)    -   31 mounter storage unit (storage)    -   41 installation sequence program    -   41B additional data    -   45 inspection area component information    -   52 receptor (receiver)    -   53 transmitter (inspection area component information        transmitter)    -   54 target event occurrence detector (target event occurrence        detector)    -   56 vacancy determiner (determiner)    -   57 data adder (data adder)    -   58 inspection area component information updater (inspection        area component information updater)    -   82 b error determiner (error determiner)    -   82 c error information transmitter (error information        transmitter)    -   92 b error occurrence location specifier (error occurrence        location specifier)    -   92 c stop command transmitter (stopper)    -   PR product area    -   PD pattern electrode    -   CR inspection area    -   CD inspection electrode    -   BH component    -   CBH inspection-required component    -   KB board

1. A component mounter that conveys in a board having a product area inwhich a pattern electrode to be incorporated in an electrical product isdisposed and an inspection area in which an inspection electrode forinspecting electrical characteristics is disposed, and conveys out theboard after repeatedly executing an operation according to aninstallation sequence program, the operation including picking up acomponent supplied by a component feeder and installing the component inthe product area, the component mounter comprising: a target eventoccurrence detector for detecting occurrence of an event that requiresinspection of the electrical characteristics with respect to thecomponent supplied by the component feeder; a determiner for determiningwhether or not the inspection area is vacant; and an inspection-requiredcomponent installer for installing the component picked up from thecomponent feeder in the inspection area as an inspection-requiredcomponent, when the target event occurrence detector detects theoccurrence of the event and the determiner determines that theinspection area is vacant.
 2. The component mounter of claim 1, furthercomprising: a data adder for adding additional data for installing theinspection-required component in the inspection area to the installationsequence program when the target event occurrence detector detects theoccurrence of the event and the determiner determines that theinspection area is vacant, wherein the inspection-required componentinstaller installs the inspection-required component in the inspectionarea based on the additional data added to the installation sequenceprogram.
 3. The component mounter of claim 2, wherein the data adderadds the additional data to an end of the installation sequence program.4. The component mounter of claim 1, wherein when the component feederis a tape feeder sequentially supplying components fed from tapescontaining the components, the target event occurrence detector detectsthe occurrence of the event based on a fact that a preceding tapecontaining components is switched to a succeeding tape containingcomponents.
 5. The component mounter of claim 1, wherein when thecomponent feeder is a tape feeder for sequentially supplying componentsfed from tapes containing the components, the target event occurrencedetector detects the occurrence of the event based on a fact that aconnector for connecting a preceding tape containing components and asucceeding tape containing components is detected.
 6. The componentmounter of claim 1, wherein the target event occurrence detector detectsthe occurrence of the event based on a fact that the component feeder isinstalled in the component mounter.
 7. The component mounter of claim 1,further comprising: a receiver for receiving inspection area componentinformation in which an installed state of the inspection-requiredcomponent in the inspection area is recorded, from an externalmanagement device, wherein the determiner determines whether or not theinspection area is vacant based on the inspection area componentinformation received by the receiver.
 8. The component mounter of claim7, further comprising: an inspection area component information updaterfor updating the inspection area component information by writinginformation indicating that the inspection-required component isinstalled in the inspection area into the inspection area componentinformation, when the inspection-required component is installed in theinspection area; and an inspection area component informationtransmitter for transmitting the inspection area component informationupdated by the inspection area component information updater, to theexternal management device.
 9. A component mounter that conveys in aboard having a product area in which a pattern electrode to beincorporated in an electrical product is disposed and an inspection areain which an inspection electrode for inspecting electricalcharacteristics is disposed, from a device on an upstream side, andconveys out the board after repeatedly executing an operation of pickingup a component supplied by a component feeder and installing thecomponent in the product area, the component mounter comprising: astorage for storing the component as an inspection-required component ina case of occurrence of an event that requires inspection of theelectrical characteristics with respect to the component supplied by thecomponent feeder; a receiver for directly or indirectly receivinginspection area component information in which an installed state of theinspection-required component in the inspection area is recorded, fromthe device on the upstream side; a determiner for determining whether ornot the inspection area is vacant based on the inspection area componentinformation received by the receiver; an inspection-required componentinstaller for installing the component picked up from the componentfeeder in the inspection area as the inspection-required component, whenthe inspection-required component is stored in the storage and thedeterminer determines that the inspection area is vacant; an inspectionarea component information updater for updating the inspection areacomponent information by writing information indicating that theinspection-required component is installed in the inspection area intothe inspection area component information, when the inspection-requiredcomponent is installed in the inspection area; and an inspection areacomponent information transmitter for directly or indirectlytransmitting the inspection area component information updated by theinspection area component information updater, to a device on adownstream side.
 10. A component mounter that conveys in a board havinga product area in which a pattern electrode to be incorporated in anelectrical product is disposed and an inspection area in which aninspection electrode for inspecting electrical characteristics isdisposed, and conveys out the board after repeatedly executing anoperation of picking up a component supplied by a component feeder andinstalling the component in the product area, the component mountercomprising: a storage for storing the component as aninspection-required component in a case of occurrence of an event thatrequires inspection of the electrical characteristics with respect tothe component supplied by the component feeder; an inspection-requiredcomponent installer for installing the component picked up from thecomponent feeder in the inspection area as the inspection-requiredcomponent, when the inspection-required component is stored in thestorage; an inspection area component information updater for updatinginspection area component information by writing information indicatingthat the inspection-required component is installed in the inspectionarea, into the inspection area component information which is directlyor indirectly received from a device on an upstream side and in which aninstalled state of the inspection-required component in the inspectionarea is recorded, when the inspection-required component is installed inthe inspection area; and an inspection area component informationtransmitter for directly or indirectly transmitting the inspection areacomponent information updated by the inspection area componentinformation updater, to a device on a downstream side.
 11. A componentmounter that conveys in a board having a product area in which a patternelectrode to be incorporated in an electrical product is disposed and aninspection area in which an inspection electrode for inspectingelectrical characteristics is disposed, from a device on an upstreamside, and conveys out the board after repeatedly executing an operationof picking up a component supplied by a component feeder and installingthe component in the product area, the component mounter comprising: astorage for storing the component as an inspection-required component ina case of occurrence of an event that requires inspection of theelectrical characteristics with respect to the component supplied by thecomponent feeder; a receiver for directly or indirectly receivinginspection area component information in which an installed state of theinspection-required component in the inspection area is recorded, fromthe device on the upstream side; a determiner for determining whether ornot the inspection area is vacant based on the inspection area componentinformation received by the receiver; an inspection-required componentinstaller for installing the component picked up from the componentfeeder in the inspection area as the inspection-required component, whenthe inspection-required component is stored in the storage and thedeterminer determines that the inspection area is vacant; and aninspection area component information updater for updating theinspection area component information by writing information indicatingthat the inspection-required component is installed in the inspectionarea into the inspection area component information, when theinspection-required component is installed in the inspection area.
 12. Acomponent mounting method by a component mounter that conveys in a boardhaving a product area in which a pattern electrode to be incorporated inan electrical product is disposed and an inspection area in which aninspection electrode for inspecting electrical characteristics isdisposed, and conveys out the board after repeatedly executing anoperation of picking up a component supplied by a component feeder andinstalling the component in the product area according to aninstallation sequence program, the method comprising: an eventoccurrence detecting step of detecting occurrence of an event thatrequires inspection of the electrical characteristics with respect tothe component supplied by the component feeder; a determining step ofdetermining whether or not the inspection area is vacant; and aninspection-required component installing step of installing thecomponent picked up from the component feeder in the inspection area asan inspection-required component, when the occurrence of the event isdetected in the event occurrence detecting step and it is determinedthat the inspection area is vacant in the determining step.